Mr Kabir – a multi-millionaire working on football projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo – visited the restaurant last month and was so impressed he set Showkoth the strange task.

“I was delighted to agree to this because it’s an absolute honour”

Restaurant owner Showkoth Choudhoury

Showkoth said: “I couldn’t believe it when I received the email. I had to call him to get him to confirm it was true – and to my delight it was. Hopefully the troops will enjoy what we have prepared as much as he did.”

The helicopter taking the meals to an army base for transporting on touched down near the restaurant in South Shields, South Tyneside, on Monday lunchtime despite having to battle the ferocious winds of Storm Angus.

SWNS

LONG HAUL: Monsson staff loaded the curries onto the helicopter for its journey

Showkoth and other Monsoon staff loaded the food on to the chopper, complete with side dishes.

He said: “We prepared four big containers of food, which is enough to feed up to 70 people easily.

“I was delighted to agree to this because it’s an absolute honour. It’s a massive compliment to me and my staff and it was fantastic to send the food on its journey.

SWNS

DINNER TIME: Showkoth said being asked to fill the order was an 'absolute honour'

“Hopefully all will go to plan and the troops will be enjoying the food tonight.”

Showkoth originally toyed with the idea of sending onion bhajis, but said they would not be as enjoyable after a long-haul flight.

He added: “Because of the way they have to be stored, they wouldn’t be as nice if they weren’t enjoyed fresh.”